IT (Constitution) est. ground rules, laws must be passed by both houses, and signed by governer. (Veto = 2/3 In both houses)

NEW SECTION:

The Federal Context of Texas Policymaking

Chapter 3, Bitches!

What is the Texas Natural Conservation Commission TNRCC

the state agency responsibly for enforcing pollution control regulations in Texas.

States In Federal System

Federation: Political System that divides power with a central gov, and state governments.

Soveriegnty: Authority os state to excercise own powers in itsboundaries

National Supremecy Clause: Federal > State.

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.

What is it/Importance.

School Desegregation Suit.

WIth support of NAACP, charged Kansas with violating Equal Protection Clause, "Seperate Education is inherently unequal"

Texas @ the time had Dual School system, so affected us.

Ruiz v Estelle

what/importance.

Prison Overcrowding Suit.

Texan Prisons were constituted "cruel and unusual punishment" Many sweeping changed to Texas prisons, and expanded the prison a lot.

Roe v. Wade

what/significance?

Abortion Suit.
3 Trimesters.
1st: No Interference
2nd: Regulate only to protect health of women.
3rd: After viability (survive out of womb), state could prohibit abortion, except when to save women life.

Abortion now legal in all states.

Factoid: Policy Formulation and Adoption

The federal gov influences state policy adoption.

States raise drinking age to 21, lower speed limit, to get more highway grant money.

Factiod: Policy Implementation & Evaluation

When States accept federal funds, there are usually strict guidelines, E.g. Clean Air Act,

Policies are Evaluated by grant deserve continue funding or whether state policies are constitutional.

After the fact law, a.k.a you cannot be arrested for doing something that was not illegal when you did it.

Factoid: Legislative Meetings

Every 2 years, or when called by governer.

Representative Qualifications

Citizen of the United States, voter of this State,resident of this for two years, and is twenty-one years old.

Senator Qualifications

Citizen of the United States, voter of this State,resident of this for five years, and is twenty-six years old.

The Executive Department of the State shall consist of?

A Governor, who shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the State, a Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller of Public Accounts, Commissioner of the General Land Office, and Attorney General

Governer Qualifications

The Governor First Tuesday after the organization of the Legislature,term of four years, or until his successor shall be duly installed.thirty years of age, a citizen of the United States, and resided at least five years.

Passing of Bill Procedure

Originate with in House or Senate, approved by both. If Veto return for 2/3 approval by both house. Governer has 1 line veto power, if no response within 10 days it is passed.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR INFORMATION

Same Qualifications as Governer.
President of Senate, tie break vote. Replace Governer when need be.

President pro tempore of the Senate

This is the highest ranking senator, basically a vice vice governer.

Secretary of State Obligations.

Appointed by the Governor, w/ advice and consent of the Senate, and in office w/ current Governor.

ATTORNEY GENERAL DUTIES.

Represent State in suits in the Supreme Court of Texas in where state is party, and shall especially inquire into the charter rights of all private corporations, in the name of the State take action in the courts to prevent private corporation from exercising any power not allocated to them not authorized by law.
He shall seek a judicial forfeiture of such charters, unless otherwise expressly directed by law, and give legal advice in writing to the Governor and others. And perform such other duties required by law.

The Comptroller of Public Accounts, Commissioner of the General Land Office, Attorney General, and any statutory State officer who is elected by the electorate of Texas at large will...

4 year terms, live at state capitol.

JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT.

The judicial power of this State shall be vested in one Supreme Court, in one Court of Criminal Appeals, in Courts of Appeals, in District Courts, in County Courts, in Commissioners Courts, in Courts of Justices of the Peace.

The Supreme Court

Chief Justice and eight Justices.
licensed to practice law in this state and citizen of the United States, age of thirty-five years, and has been a practicing lawyer, or a lawyer and judge of a court of record together at least 10 years.
Elected (three every two years) at a general election; shall 6 year offices.

The Court of Criminal Appeals

Same as Supreme Court, a court of last resort for criminal cases I suppose.

TRIAL BY JURY

in District Courts, the plaintiff or defendant shall, upon application made in open court, have the right of trial by jury, their fees will be payed by the demandee.

Juror Qualifications

cannot be convicted of bribery, perjury, forgery, or other high crimes.

SUFFRAGE RESTRICTIONS

Under 18 years of age,mentally incompetent, and
persons convicted of any felony.
exclude those who have bribery, perjury, forgery, or other high crimes.

Voting Priveledge

Voters shall, in all cases, except treason, felony or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at elections, and in going to and returning therefrom.

TAXES FOR BENEFIT OF SCHOOLS; SCHOOL DISTRICTS

One-fourth of the revenue derived from the State occupation taxes shall be set apart annually for public schools.
The State Board of Education duties will be to set amount of available funds to provide free text books for the use of children attending the public free schools of this State.

If taxation be insufficient, the deficit may be met by appropriation from the general funds of the State.

The Legislature may provide for the formation of school districts by general laws, and school districts may be parts of two or more counties.

Est. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS

The legislature shall establish, organize and provide for the maintenance, support and direction of a University of the first class, and styled, "The University of Texas," for the promotion of literature, and the arts and sciences, including an Agricultural, and Mechanical department.

Permanant University Fund(PUF): Constitution Factoids

UT may invest the (PUF) in securities, bonds or other obligations issued, insured, or guaranteed in any manner by the United States Government.

UT can put PUF in any kind of investment, that prudent investors would acquire or retain in light of the purposes, terms, distribution requirements, and other circumstances of the fund then prevailing considering the investment of all the assets of the fund rather than a single investment.

TEXAS TOMORROW FUND

search on wilkipedia for it!

ad valorem taxes.

Ad valorem is Latin for "According to value".

From Wilkepedia

No STATE ad-valorem tax.
Typically imposed at the time of a transaction (a sales tax or value-added tax (VAT)) but it may be imposed on an annual basis (property tax) or in connection with another significant event (inheritance tax or tariffs).

Article 14 - PUBLIC LANDS AND LAND OFFICE

There shall be one General Land Office in the State, where all land titles shall be registered.

IMPEACHMENT

The power of impeachment shall be vested in the House of Representatives.

AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE

(a) The Legislature may propose amendments revising the Constitution. The date of the elections shall be specified by the Legislature.

The proposal be approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each House.

(b) A brief explanatory statement of the nature of a proposed amendment.

(c) If it appears from the returns that a majority of the votes cast have been cast in favor of an amendment, it shall become a part of this Constitution, and proclamation thereof shall be made by the Governor.

RETURNING TO THE BOOK
:::CHAPTER 6::::

Political Parties

Holy Crap MY TEST IS tomorrow.
1/17/06
- Alex

History of the Texas Party System Segment...

Breif Overview follows

Texas has 5 Party eras
1. Reconstruction (1870's) to 1930's. One party Democratic.

2. 1930's-1952 One party stsate, but liberal & conservative factions within Democratic Party